Power operated clothes press



Nov. 11, 1969 E. DACHTLER 3,477,153

POWER OPERATED CLOTHES PRESS Filed Aug. a, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 58 INVENTOR.

EMIL DACHTLER ATTORNEY 1969 E. DACHTLER POWER OPERATED CLQTHES PRESS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

Filed Aug. 8, 1966 INVENTOR.

EMIL' DACHTLER FIG. 3,

I I w ATTORNEY United States Patent US. Cl. 38-41 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention concerns a clothes press having power means for moving a pressing head into a buck. The pressing head is mounted on an arm pivotally attached to the frame of the press. Pivotally connected to a bell crank lever mounted on the end of the arm opposite from the pressing head is an upper link of an upright toggle mechanism. The lower link of the toggle mechanism is pivotally connected to one end of a substantially horizontal link in turn connected at its other end to one end of another substantially horizontal link pivotally anchored to the frame of the press. A first fluid operated cylinder is connected to the last mentioned link for operating the toggle mechanism and the arm for moving the pressing head toward and away from the buck. Also pivotally connected to the bell crank lever is a second fluid operated cylinder the piston rod of which is connected to a forward portion of the arm. The second fluid operated cylinder operates to move the pressing head closer to the buck than the first cylinder and has a length adjustment connection with the arm to apply the desired pressing force between the pressing head and buck.

This invention relates to a clothes press, and more particularly pertains to a commercial type press which utilizes steam generally and is operated by a single operator.

A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a clothes press of the type described which has a stationary pressing head or buck and a movable pressing head and including powered means for operating the movable pressing head.

It is another object to provide a clothes press of the type described having a novel arrangement of lever and linkage means associated with the power means.

Still another object is to provide a clothes press having a pressing head operated by a pair of power means one of which is arranged to apply a first pressure to the head and the other of which is arranged to apply additional pressure when such is necessary.

Yet another object is to provide power operated means for a clothes press which are arranged for convenient connection to a manual type press to convert the same into a power operated press.

Additional objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred form of the device.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the present power operated clothes press, a portion of said press being broken away;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary plan view taken on line 2-2 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary, horizontal sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIGURE 1.

Referring in particular to the drawings, the press of the invention has a base plate to which is integrated a pair of upright side walls or support means 12 of the shape shown in FIGURE 1 and interconnected at their upper end by a cross shaft 14. A front plate 16 is secured between the side walls 12 at the lower portion thereof, and a buck supporting frame 18 and table surface 19 are secured on a horizontal portion 12a of the side walls 12. This frame supports at its upper end a stationary pressing head or buck 20 of conventional construction, and this buck is associated with a movable pressing head 22.

Movable head 22 is secured to a cross plate 24 in turn secured to a pair of generally horizontal parallel arms 26 pivotally mounted intermediate their ends on the cross shaft 14. Mounted crosswise on the arms 26 adjacent to the rearward ends of the latter is a shaft 28 on which is journaled an upstanding bell crank lever 30 of substantially right angular configuration, having an upright portion 30a and a substantially horizontal portion 30b. Pivotally connected to the upper end of upright portion 30a is a fluid operated cylinder 32 the piston rod 34 of which projects forwardly and comprises a push rod in operation. The forward end of this arm is connected to a cross bar 36 integrated with the arms 26. The connection of the rod 34 with the cross bar 36 comprises an adjustable connection for increasing or decreasing the length of the rod, and for this purpose the rod 34 is circular and has screw threads 38 on its forward end. The said forward end of the rod 34 projects freely through the cross bar 36 and threadedly carries an adjusting nut 40 in abutment with the bar 36 for accomplishing the length adjustment of the rod for a purpose to be described.

The horizontal projecting portion 30b of the bell crank lever 30 has a pivotal connection 42 with the upper end of a toggle mechanism comprising an upstanding link 44 having a pivotal connection 46 at its lower end with the upper end of a second upstanding link 48 pivotally supported at its bottom on a cross pin 50 in turn having support in the side walls 12.

The links 44 and 48 are adapted to break on their pivot 46, and to accomplish such breaking action another pair of links 52 and 54 are associated therewith. These latter links extend forwardly and generally horizontal, with the link 52 having a pivotal connection 56 at one of its ends just below the top of second link 48 adjacent to the pivot connection 46 and having a pivotal connection 60 at its other end with one end of the link 54. The opposite end of link 54 from the pivotal connection 60 is pivotally supported on a cross pin 62 mounted on the side walls 12.

Pivotally connected to the link 54 intermediate the ends of the latter is the free end of a piston rod 64 from a fluid operated cylinder 66. The end of the cylinder 66 opposite from its projecting piston rod has a pivotal connection 68 on a bracket 70 secured to the front wall 16 of the press frame.

The operating parts of the machine are shown in a press condition in full lines in FIGURE 1, and are shown in a non-press or release position in phantom lines. In the press position, the links 44 and 48 extend vertically in substantial alignment and the links 52 and 54 extend horizontally also in substantial alignment. The parts are urged to the non-press or release position by a first tension spring '72 connected between the base of the press and an upper portion of the link 48 and a second tension spring 74 connected between a side wall 12 and an arm 26 at a point rearwardly of the pivot support 14 therefor. Thus, without power on the cylinder 66 the springs 72 and 74 move the operating linkage to the phantom line or release position of the press.

Means are provided on the linkage mechanisms to stop the press in each of the press and release positions thereof. To stop the mechanism in the press position, the link 52 is provided with an angular projection 76 which carries an abutment finger 78 on the end thereof and arranged for abutting one edge of the link 43 when the press is fully closed. The stop means 78 is preferably provided to stop the movable head 22 a short distance from the buck 20 whereby although said head can accomplish a pressing function the downward pressure that can be exerted on the buck is limited. To stop the press at its fully open position, link 48 has an angular projection 80 to which is integrated a stop mechanism 82 disposed in substantial parallel alignment with the link 48. Stop mechanism 82 is arranged for abutment with a projection 84 on the link 44 and upon engagement therewith, as seen in phantom lines, the press is held in a fully open position. In a preferred construction, the stop 82 comprises either spring or fluid operated shock absorbing mechanism to relieve the parts of damaging shock when opened by the springs.

As best seen in FIGURES 1 and 3, the table 19 has a recess 86 in its front edge, and secured in the recess centrally thereof is a mounting plate 88 for a pair of operating switches 90 and 92 which control respectively, the fluid operated cylinders 32 and 66 by any suitable means such as by solenoid operated valves, not shown. In general pressing operations the cylinder 66 is operated by the switch 92, the switch being closed to cause the cylinder to bring the head 22 into pressing position and being released to allow the springs 72 and 74 to return the press to open position. When it is desired to apply an additional pressing force between the heads, the switch 90 is closed to actuate the cylinder 32. It is apparent that when the cylinder 32 is actuated, compression is applied to the rod 34. This compressive force pushes the forward end of the arms 26 downwardly since the bell crank lever 30 cannot pivot clockwise due to the aligned locked position of the links 44 and 48. Axial adjustment of the rod 34, by suitable threaded positioning of nut 40, can be accomplished, to apply the desired pressing force between the head and buck. Thus, in a pressing operation, the operator need generally only work with the cylinder 66, but when an extra pressure is needed the cylinder 32 can be actuated.

The head and buck are provided with steam outlets. Since such steam supply is of conventional construction and use, it is not shown herein.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A power operated clothes press comprising (a) upstanding support means,

(b) a buck on said support means,

(c) arm means pivotally connected intermediate its ends to said support means,

(d) a pressing head on the forward end of said arm means arranged for pressing cooperation with said buck,

(e) first fluid operated power means,

(f) connecting means operably connecting said first power means to said arm means whereby to move said pressing head forcefully toward said buck,

(g) stop means operative on said connecting means arranged to stop said pressing head short of said buck,

(h) and second fluid operated power means connected between said connecting means and a forward portion of said arm means for moving said pressing head closer to said buck than said first power means.

2. The power operated clothes press of claim 1 wherein (a) said connecting means comprises link means conneetcd to the rearward end of said arm means,

(b) said link means including a first upstanding link pivotally connected at one of its ends to said rearward end of said arm means,

(c) a second upstanding link pivotally connected at one of its ends to the other end of said first link,

(d) the other end of said second link being pivotally connected to said support means,

(e) a third link connected pivotally and angularly to one of said first and second links adjacent to the pivotal connection between said first and second links,

(f) and a fourth link pivotally connected at one of its ends to said third link and at its other end to said supporting frame,

(g) said first power means being operably connected to one of said third and fourth links for pivoting said arm means whereby to move said pressing head forcefully toward said buck,

(h) said stop means being carried on one of said links and having an engaging position with one of said other links.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,930,349 10/1933 Pendleton 3841 2,075,299 3/1937 Pendleton 38-41 2,651,125 9/1953 Cole et a1. 3841 2,703,939 3/1955 Clarke 38-41 3,279,106 10/1966 Tucker 384O MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner G. V. LARKIN, Assistant Examiner 

